Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation
The Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in San Antonio, Texas. Established in 1986 and tax-exempt since August 1988, the foundation carries forward the philanthropic legacy of the Coates, Stieren, Roberts, and Kelso families. The foundation supports diverse community needs with particular emphasis on Bexar County and the surrounding region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$51.5M
+5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+9.6% YoY
Grant Count
73
+52.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
-27.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support the diverse needs of San Antonio and the surrounding community, with an emphasis on Bexar County, in keeping with the long-standing generosity established by the Coates, Stieren, Roberts, and Kelso families.
Primary focus areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Health and wellness
- Animal welfare and wildlife conservation
The foundation's philanthropic history reflects deep roots in Texas, with support extending to institutions benefiting arts, education, health and wellness, animal welfare, and wildlife research.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker that accepts applications. Based on 2023 data, the foundation awarded approximately $2.9 million through 48 grants, with a median grant size of $20,000. Grant amounts typically range from $3,000 to $400,000.
Grant Range
of $20,000. Grant amounts typically range from $3,000 to $400,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Texas, with particular emphasis on Bexar County and the San Antonio area. The foundation also makes grants in New York and Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $49.0 million
- Total Revenue: $2,438,533
- Total Expenses: $3,353,410
- Total Giving: $2.9 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Sources (2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $895,560
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,533,936
- Miscellaneous revenues: $9,037
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $51,501,745 | $49,027,562 | $49,942,439 |
| Revenue | $6,182,069 | $2,438,533 | $1,891,048 |
| Expenses | $3,707,886 | $3,353,410 | $3,978,658 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,174,000 | $2,896,588 | $3,417,631 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,627,317 | $1,984,711 | $1,462,723 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,169,153 | $2,859,594 | $2,890,408 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
248 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include San Antonio Botanical Societygarden ($430,000), American Cancer Society ($100,000), Saint Mary's Hall ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1HOPE FOR KIDS INC SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| ALAMO KIWANIS CLUB SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| ALPHA HOME SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| ALS ASSOCIATION SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| AMERICA'S VETDOGS - THE VETERAN'S K-9 CORPS INC SMITHTOWN, NY | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| ANY BABY CAN OF SAN ANTONIO INC SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| AUGUSTHEART SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| AUSTIN CREATIVE ALLIANCE AUSTIN, TX | CHARITABLE | $1,500 |
| AUTISM COMMUNITY NETWORK SAN ANTONIO, TX | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARRY ROBERTS | PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| CAROLINA ROBERTS LEWIS | VICE-PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| ELIZABETH MCALLEN ROBERTS | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 7373 Broadway, Suite 406, San Antonio, TX 78209-3268
Phone: 210-820-0113
Website: www.bettystierenkelsofoundation.org
EIN: 74-2442790
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to support the diverse needs of San Antonio and the surrounding community, with an emphasis on Bexar County, in keeping with the long-standing generosity established by the Coates, Stieren, Roberts, and Kelso families. Primary focus areas include: • Arts and culture • Education • Health and wellness • Animal welfare and wildlife conservation The foundation's philanthropic history reflects deep roots in Texas, with support extending to institutions benefiting arts, ed…
How do I apply for a grant from Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation?
The foundation is an active grantmaker that accepts applications. Based on 2023 data, the foundation awarded approximately $2.9 million through 48 grants, with a median grant size of $20,000. Grant amounts typically range from $3,000 to $400,000. Recent notable grants include: • Texas Biomedical Research Institute: $400,000 • University of the Incarnate Word: $329,488 • The Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation: $250,000 The foundation's giving rate represents approximately 5.9% of assets annua…
Where does Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Texas, with particular emphasis on Bexar County and the San Antonio area. The foundation also makes grants in New York and Washington.
What size grants does Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation award?
In 2024, Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation awarded 73 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $43K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation's EIN?
Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2442790. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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